The Fort Worth City Council has approved a resolution asking the U.S. Attorney to conduct an independent investigation into the Rainbow Lounge raid. The council has also established a diversity council to deal specifically on LGBT issues. Watch Friday’s Dallas Voice for a full story.
Great news!
I was there and it was a powerful moment to see that democracy does still work and that we can continue to move toward justice in this country. I wonder at the details of the independent investigation. Although the United States Attorney General’s office was mentioned, there were not any specifics in the resolution about how this will be carried out.
We are also going to have to be patient at this point because this will meant that a whole new investigation group will have to be created and every witness and participant will have to be re-interviewed, as well as the four that still fear for retribution from the FWPD.
I want to say that I think that while it took a bit long for this to come about, I believe that the city of Fort Worth, and the FWPD have begun acting in the right manner and this can and will lead to a greater empowerment and respect for our community.
>>>the four that still fear for retribution from the FWPD.
If this is true, this is extremely disturbing that despite all the media coverage people are still afraid to come forward with their stories.
Are they afraid that the police will add charges if they speak up? Or that the DA will ask for harsher prosecution? Or are they afraid that the police will harass them or cause bodily harm to them?
Marling says: ” I want to say that I think that while it took a bit long for this to come about, I believe that the city of Fort Worth, and the FWPD have begun acting in the right manner and this can and will lead to a greater empowerment and respect for our community.”
I’m sorry Marlin, but WHEN were they NOT “acting in the right manner?” I think this whole incident is a very good demonstration of how elected officials can respond quickly and honestly to an unfortunate situation. While the Chief of Police could use some training, the Mayor and Council did a fine job. With the exception of the scene caused by Queer Libations, it appears as if the community of Fort Worth and the gay community listened to each other.
A little more than 3 weeks to pass a Resolution is a VERY SHORT amount of time. Nothing suggests anything but a very professional, thoughtful and complete response.
Thank you Ft. Worth City Council. I guess they realize that bad publicity isn’t good for the city. BIg thanks to Joel Burns, Katherine Hicks, and Lisa Thomas. This is another move in the right direction.
Brian asked, “WHEN were they NOT “acting in the right manner?””
When the Chief of Police reported that his officers were sexually attacked.
When the Chief of Police said it was okay to bash gays in that particular circumstance. This is a sign that gay panic is a valid reasoning for attacking and killing gay people.
When the city of Fort Worth didn’t have an emergency meeting to discuss this issue as their reputation went down the drian in national and international news.
When they allowed their citizens to live in terror of their police force. One poor straight woman, Sarah (I think), couldn’t even get her words out, a bit over two weeks later, she was still so traumatized.
When they didn’t have a LGBT liason already in place.
When they allowed their officers to break TABC procedures.
When they began the blame game and said it was TABC, as if they had no responsibility, and yet they had the majority of staff present.
When they didn’t immediately call for an independent investigation like Burns and Hicks did.
When they didn’t realize that this was a civil rights issue.
When they didn’t train their staff on how to handle arrests, which allowed a person to get injured while in their (whomevers — TABC or FWPD) custody.
When the mayor seemed to apologize then retracted that apology the next day (Although I think that apology should not have been given in that circumstance as it was during QL’s direct action at the meeting).
When they didn’t immediately realize that something had gone very wrong at Rainbow Lounge.
When they didn’t speak to the reality of the homophobia that continues to infest their city, our state, and our nation, which is a continuing factor in people ability to attack us verbally, and physically.
I think the El Paso incident is a good example of how things should have gone down. The police made a mistake at the cafe (Officer said that he could issue a ticket for homosexual conduct, and a eating establishment had the right to not serve people if they so chose.). The supervisor of that police officer made another mistake. (Said that the correct broken law was trespassing). The chief of police within days, I think less than 5 issued a statement — my police officers were wrong! (a) The City of El Paso has a ordinance saying you can’t discriminate in a public place based on sexual orientation, and b) Texas has no law against homosexual conduct) The city council called the chief (as a representative of his department) on the carpet and said we won’t stand for this kind of prejudice in our city. That is how a city should respond. Within less than a week the incident, at least for the city of El Paso, has been resolved. The cafe and the security officers are another story. LOL.
@Brian- Late as I am, I want to agree with your take on the whole matter. The FW City Council acted very quickly given the normally glacial pace of government. I like your tone because I think it reminds everyone of the importance of looking for pragmatic results when we seek redress for grievances, more representation, etc…. We have to be hard-nosed realists while we still pursue lofty goals.
@Marlin- I was there July 12th and I also felt inspired by the democratic process, (despite embarrassment at QLs minor disruption.) I agree with you that we need to hold people’s feet to the fire to make sure the right questions are asked and answered.
BUT, you lost me when in response to Brian’s remarks you went past the mark in some of your comments.
Specifically;
The Police Chief’s unfortunate initial remarks certainly didn’t advocate nor leave anybody with the impression it was OK to “attack and kill gay people”. I think we should dial down that kind of hyperbole. His comments immediately after the incident have been acknowledged as hasty.
You wondered why there was no “emergency meeting” of the City Council which just wasn’t practical nor warranted since an investigation of the facts was then, and is now, ongoing.
Your remark that citizens “live in terror” of the police is very dramatic but fails to accurately describe the situation in FW. Many speakers July 12th and since have reminded us that the FW Police have bad actors but are otherwise a competent and professional force. TABC Administrator Steen has roundly criticized the bad actors within the TABC and appears to be taking corrective action.
There’s a lot about what “shoulda” been with which some room made be found for agreement but the past cannot be changed. The actions of FWPD in getting a liaison, FWPD and TABC advocating diversity training, etc… answer the number of training and sensitivity issues raised in your post and promise better results in future.
As an observation, I stood with and was introduced to ‘Sarah’ who had been invited to speak by Fairness Fort Worth. It’s my impression that speaking in front of a large group was very stressful and greatly exacerbated her fearfulness.
You say someone, “… allowed their officers to break TABC procedures.”(?!). It isn’t clear that anyone “allowed” violations of procedure and it seems Administrator Steen’s comments about, “… following the damn procedures…” demonstrates otherwise. We should be grateful he’s been forthcoming. It would have made our job a lot harder if he hadn’t.
Mayor Moncrief called for the US Attorney within a few days of the incident which to me constitutes a call for an “independent investigator” very early on. I believe this did recognize and appropriately addresses possible civil rights violations. It should be remembered that the US Attorneys office would be the party responsible for exactly those kinds of prosecutions.
This oft demanded “apology” of some kind by the Mayor, et al, isn’t meaningful if the officers and agents on hand made the errors. He’s said he’s sorry anybody got hurt. Expecting one individual to assume responsibility for the acts of another isn’t necessarily fair and rational. Also as possible litigants in future proceedings it’s warranted for city officials to be judicious about accepting “blame” until a report about possible violations of policy and training are completed. In fact, we would ALL benefit by being more discreet until we have those reports whose facts we can reasonably debate.
Marlin, please don’t read this as somehow condescending. I’d rather when we made remarks in public forums like this we ALL held ourselves to a little higher standard of accuracy and restraint. I also get riled when I read a certain posts and I let my tongue get too sharp. But, later with calm reflection I remember that our enemies often use the injudicious remark by one as fodder to attack us all.
Steve,
“Condescending” is not the word that I would use in response to your response to my words. I will be kind and not tell you what it “sounded” like to me. I don’t have a problem if you don’t feel the way I do.
Just a bit of background. My father was a police officer most of my life. I don’t believe that police are bad people. I don’t believe that the whole of FWPD is bad. But I do believe (will go as far as to say know) that there are certain people in power in the police department, in the government, that are abusers of power.
I won’t argue you point by point, because I don’t think that is what you desire. But I will say that I do not back away from the word terror. I know what terror is. I know that at this point some of the tactics used by police are terror tactics. I believe when they go as far as they seem to have gone at Rainbow Lounge, it leaves people in terror. That is the purpose of certain police tactics. I don’t believe these kinds of tactics are aimed merely at gay people either. Recent history of TABC and FWPD seems to bear out that there may be a bigger problem.
What they did that night — grabbing 21 people — dragging them outside in cuffs — is terrorism. I won’t say that this was because of them being at a gay bar. My fear is that this is a technique that they use repeatedly at bars. If not, then it was terrorism at that particular bar. This is a random snatching of people “off the street” and trying to find guilty people.
If you study history, people in power, have used these techniques in the past to terrorize people. Sometimes it people using power to control a whole population. Sometimes it has been aimed at certain populations. Terror is NEVER acceptable. If they had cause to “arrest” people that would have been one thing. If these people were acting in dangerous way that would have been acceptable. But they were just grabbing people.
My greater fear is that this is what they had been doing all night. If Chad Gibson had not been injured they would probably have gotten away with it and continued. I have been talking to Carolyn Beck (TABC spokesperson) about this situation and my own feelings. As I told her, I wouldn’t go into a bar right now under any circumstances. Not because I am gay, but because I know realize that TABC can terrorize me simply because I am in a bar.
I probably am the only one that feels that way. I am sure that bar business has not dropped because of this. And I know that the loss of the very few drinks that I drink in a year won’t hurt any business. But I do know how I feel, and I hope I am the only one — living in my delusional world LOL.
If you wish a point by point response please let me know and I will be happy to provide one.